Airport staff vote to strike

10:14AM GMT 22 Jan 2002

WORKERS at one of the country's busiest airports have voted to strike in a row over jobs.

Members of the Transport and General Workers Union at Manchester airport backed industrial action by 726 votes to 151. The union has mounted a campaign against cuts at the airport which it fears will compromise safety.

The dispute centres on plans by the airport's management to cut 140 security jobs from the current staff of 700. Union leaders will meet later today to decide their next move, which could lead to strike dates being named.

"This overwhelming vote sends a very strong message to the airport of workers' grave concern for the effect on security of the planned cuts," said a TGWU spokesman.

A Manchester airport spokesman said the ballot was "premature and unnecessary" because negotiations had not been exhausted.